The BUS grant — in plain English
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme pays up to £9,000 towards your heat pump installation. No forms for you to fill in — we handle the application. Here's how it works.
What you'll actually get
The BUS is a fixed-amount voucher — not a percentage. It's deducted from your installation cost up front, not paid back later.
Amounts were uplifted on 21 April 2026. Figures below are current.
Oil, LPG & electric homes
£9,000
Rural homes off the gas grid — exactly the type of property a ground source heat pump is designed for. Highest grant amount.
Covers typically 20–35% of a full installation cost.
Mains gas homes
£7,500
Urban and suburban homes currently heated by mains gas looking to decarbonise.
Same application process, same MCS requirements.
How the BUS grant works with Nicholls
You don't touch the paperwork. Here's what happens between your first enquiry and your heat pump being commissioned — with BUS grant steps marked.
01
You enquire
Free site visit, free written quote with the BUS amount already deducted.
02
You sign
You sign a BUS consent form giving us permission to apply on your behalf.
03
We apply
We file the voucher application through Ofgem's installer portal. Typical approval 2–4 weeks.
04
Voucher issued
Ofgem issues your voucher. Installation can now be scheduled.
05
We claim
Post-install we claim the voucher from Ofgem. You never see the cash.
Steps 3 & 4 (highlighted) are the BUS-specific stages. Your installation fee is invoiced with the grant already deducted — you pay the net amount.
Do you qualify?
Most homes off the gas grid, and many on it, do. A quick checklist — and if you're unsure about any of these we'll confirm eligibility during your free site visit before you commit to anything.
The property is in England or Wales (separate schemes in Scotland and Northern Ireland)
The property has a valid EPC dated in the last 10 years
The property is replacing fossil-fuel heating (oil, LPG, gas, direct electric)
The heat pump is MCS certified and installed by an MCS-certified installer (that's us)
You're replacing an existing heat pump (the BUS is for first-time replacements only)
The property is new-build that has never been lived in
Not sure about your EPC? We'll check it for you — and if you don't have a current one, an EPC assessor can produce one in a day. Cost is typically £60–£120.
We do the paperwork.
Every bit of it.
You shouldn't have to wrestle with Ofgem portals and MCS documentation to get a grant you're entitled to. We've handled the BUS — and its predecessor, the Renewable Heat Incentive — on hundreds of installations.
MCS certified
The only accreditation that unlocks the grant. Required for every application.
Direct Ofgem portal access
We file, track and chase the voucher on your behalf.
Grant deducted upfront
Your invoice is already net of the grant. No claiming back, no cash flow juggle.
No grant = no cost
If the application is rejected (rare), we tell you before any commitment.
£9,000
Max BUS amount (oil & LPG)
2–4wk
Typical approval time
500+
GSHP systems installed
2028
Scheme funded until March
BUS grant — common questions
The questions we hear most often about the grant itself. Want the heat-pump side of the question? Read our homeowner heat-pump guide →
Is the BUS grant paid to me or to the installer?
Do I need to apply for the BUS grant myself?
What if the application is rejected?
How long does the grant last once approved?
Can I combine BUS with other grants?
Is the scheme ending?
Get a quote with the BUS grant applied
Free site visit, free written quote with the grant amount already deducted. No hard sell, no obligation.
Prefer to talk it through first?
Our team can walk you through your BUS eligibility in a 10-minute phone call. No pressure — just straight answers.